St. Anthony

On the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. Anthony was already an established port for French and Basque fisherman by the time Jacque Cartier arrived in 1534. More than 500 years before that, an area adjacent to the town, now a popular tourist destination and UNESCO World Heritage Site, was settled by Europeans. Known as L'Anse aux Meadows, the Norse buildings are the earliest known European structures on the North American continent. The village housed men and women, had livestock, and was the site of the earliest contact between European and American native peoples.

Attractions include the board-walked scenic trail, with spectacular ocean views, to Goose Cove. The sea is a constant fascination, with whales, including Belugas, dolphin, transient polar bears, and the wondrous translucent green icebergs. Marine tours, including whale watching, are available in the summer; in the winter, the snow-covered hills are popular for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Ice fishing is also a regular pursuit.

The legacy and important work of Dr Wilfred Grenfell, who came to St. Anthony on behalf of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen in 1900, is still evident in the town. St. Anthony, population 2400, remains the centre of support services and logistics for the peninsula area (population approximately 27,000).